Well tomorrow I'm flying down to London for a UK Young Ambassador's training residential. We have a very packed agenda which will include a visit to the Department for Education in Whitehall. I'll be in London until Saturday morning when I fly out to Istanbul for the 5th World Youth Congress.
I'll be blogging all the time I'm away so check back for regular updates.
Tuesday, 27 July 2010
Wednesday, 21 July 2010
Visit to Milton Fusion
In my role as an MSYP, tonight I visted Milton Fusion. A youth club in the North of the City, set up by Glasgow Life to give the local young people something to do. Milton is a very deprived area and it was great to see the great spirit of the young people that live there. They're switched on and know exactly what they want from life.
I think too often, these young people have been written off. No more! I was so pleased to see such determination and listening to the stories of the young people was fantastic.
The minute I mentioned I was from the youth parliament, I was instantly hit with "I hate politics, I know nothing about it." This of course was untrue. The minute I mentioned David Cameron so many of them replied, "I hate the tories," or used some very colourful language to describe Mrs Thatcher! Of course I couldn't disagree with them more, it was heartening to see that they do know about politics and although they may be misguided or perhaps, misinformed, they still have an opinion!
They have asked me to look into using another venue for their club and I will be contacting Glasgow City Council to see if it's possible. I really enjoyed myself tonight, it's nice when I'm doing my SYP work to see "real people" now and again!
I think too often, these young people have been written off. No more! I was so pleased to see such determination and listening to the stories of the young people was fantastic.
The minute I mentioned I was from the youth parliament, I was instantly hit with "I hate politics, I know nothing about it." This of course was untrue. The minute I mentioned David Cameron so many of them replied, "I hate the tories," or used some very colourful language to describe Mrs Thatcher! Of course I couldn't disagree with them more, it was heartening to see that they do know about politics and although they may be misguided or perhaps, misinformed, they still have an opinion!
They have asked me to look into using another venue for their club and I will be contacting Glasgow City Council to see if it's possible. I really enjoyed myself tonight, it's nice when I'm doing my SYP work to see "real people" now and again!
Monday, 19 July 2010
Our Big Society Agenda
Today the Prime Minister launched our Big Society Agenda in Liverpool.He set out the government's plans to end Labour's top-down, controlling approach and give people the tools to improve their own lives. For 13 years, we've had Labour and Government controlling everything from Whitehall. Well no more! Finally, we're being given the opportunity to control our own lives. Labour surely couldnt have thought that Whitehall pen pushers know more about our communities than the people that actually live and work in them. Anyway, Labour aren't exactly well know for their excellent decisions... one word, defecit! Enough said I think?
The Conservative Party are showing that although Government is essential, the real experts are local people. They are showing that they trust the hard working people across the United Kingdom, unlike the previous Labour government. Labour should be ashamed of how they spoon fed people constantly and didn't allow us to make the important decisions that affect our every day lives. Of course there are a lot more things that the Labour party should be ashamed of, but thats for another post!
The Prime Minister has outlined three key strands for the Big Society agenda:
Social Action - the government will foster and support a new culture of voluntarism and philanthropy
Public service reform - getting rid of the centralised bureaucracy and in its place giving professionals much more freedom, opening up public services to new providers like charities, social enterprises and private companies so we get more innovation, diversity and responsiveness to public need
Community empowerment - creating communities with neighbourhoods who are in charge of their own destiny, who feel if they club together and get involved they can shape the world around them.
It makes you wonder why on earth we didnt have these before.... I guess Brown and his cronies are the only ones who know the answer to that and if you're expecting one from them, I'd guess you'll have a long wait!
The Conservative Party are showing that although Government is essential, the real experts are local people. They are showing that they trust the hard working people across the United Kingdom, unlike the previous Labour government. Labour should be ashamed of how they spoon fed people constantly and didn't allow us to make the important decisions that affect our every day lives. Of course there are a lot more things that the Labour party should be ashamed of, but thats for another post!
The Prime Minister has outlined three key strands for the Big Society agenda:
Social Action - the government will foster and support a new culture of voluntarism and philanthropy
Public service reform - getting rid of the centralised bureaucracy and in its place giving professionals much more freedom, opening up public services to new providers like charities, social enterprises and private companies so we get more innovation, diversity and responsiveness to public need
Community empowerment - creating communities with neighbourhoods who are in charge of their own destiny, who feel if they club together and get involved they can shape the world around them.
It makes you wonder why on earth we didnt have these before.... I guess Brown and his cronies are the only ones who know the answer to that and if you're expecting one from them, I'd guess you'll have a long wait!
Vigil for Florence and Precious Mhango
Tonight I was in Glasgow City Centre at a vigil for Florence and Precious Mhango. The family, originally from Malawi, have lived in the UK for the last 7 years. It was a very emotional event with some fantastic speeches from friends of the Mhangos. We heard how the UK Border Agency (UKBA) have intimidated a wheelchair dependant friend of Florence and Precious. All I can say is, shame on UKBA.
As a Conservative, of course I believe in strict border controls and think that Labour's almost, open door policy has been terrible for this country. However, I do believe that in this particular case, an exception should be made. I think the UKBA should have a certain time scale in which they deal with each case. Although I'm sure such a scale does exist, it clearly hasn't been implemented in the case of the Mhangos. They have lived in the United Kingdom for the last 7 years, not knowing whether they would be allowed to stay in the UK or not.This in my opinion is too long. The UKBA have a responsibility to put people out of the suspense of not knowing whether they will be allowed to remain in the UK, or if they'll be returned to their country of origin.
I will be writing to the Home Secretary, Theresa May, to express my concerns surrounding this case. If the people of Glasgow have anything to do with it, the Mhangos wouldn't be going anywhere!
As a Conservative, of course I believe in strict border controls and think that Labour's almost, open door policy has been terrible for this country. However, I do believe that in this particular case, an exception should be made. I think the UKBA should have a certain time scale in which they deal with each case. Although I'm sure such a scale does exist, it clearly hasn't been implemented in the case of the Mhangos. They have lived in the United Kingdom for the last 7 years, not knowing whether they would be allowed to stay in the UK or not.This in my opinion is too long. The UKBA have a responsibility to put people out of the suspense of not knowing whether they will be allowed to remain in the UK, or if they'll be returned to their country of origin.
I will be writing to the Home Secretary, Theresa May, to express my concerns surrounding this case. If the people of Glasgow have anything to do with it, the Mhangos wouldn't be going anywhere!
About Me
My name is Keenan Alexander and I live in Glasgow.
In May 2009, I was elected to the Scottish Youth Parliament for Glasgow Springburn. As an MSYP, I have a position on the Glasgow MSYP group, of which I was elected as Treasurer and latterly Vice Chairperson. I was elected as the Deputy Convener of the Social Justice Committee (09/10) and resigned from the post at the SYP AGM in June 2010 in order to stand as a candidate in the External Affairs Deputy Convenership election. I'm pleased to say that I was successful and will remain in the post until 2011. I have also been appointed the Chairperson of the Glasgow - Malawi exchange programme. In March 10, I was successful in my application to become one of Scotland's three, UK Young Ambassadors. I'm very excited about being involved with this project and will remain in post until April 2011
Outside the Youth Parliament, I'm an active member of the Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Over the last year, I have worked closely with PPCs and attended various events. The Scottish Conservative Party really is changing, we're more inclusive, diverse and accepting party. I have really enjoyed the experience of campaigning in the General Election for Conservative candidates in Glasgow and look forward to the Scottish Parliamentary elections next year.
In May 2009, I was elected to the Scottish Youth Parliament for Glasgow Springburn. As an MSYP, I have a position on the Glasgow MSYP group, of which I was elected as Treasurer and latterly Vice Chairperson. I was elected as the Deputy Convener of the Social Justice Committee (09/10) and resigned from the post at the SYP AGM in June 2010 in order to stand as a candidate in the External Affairs Deputy Convenership election. I'm pleased to say that I was successful and will remain in the post until 2011. I have also been appointed the Chairperson of the Glasgow - Malawi exchange programme. In March 10, I was successful in my application to become one of Scotland's three, UK Young Ambassadors. I'm very excited about being involved with this project and will remain in post until April 2011
Outside the Youth Parliament, I'm an active member of the Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Over the last year, I have worked closely with PPCs and attended various events. The Scottish Conservative Party really is changing, we're more inclusive, diverse and accepting party. I have really enjoyed the experience of campaigning in the General Election for Conservative candidates in Glasgow and look forward to the Scottish Parliamentary elections next year.
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